Oliver Dowden, known as the MP for Albert Square as his Hertsmere constituency covers the Elstree lot where the BBC film EastEnders, has been replaced as culture secretary by a former contestant on I’m a Celebrity.
The move, part of Boris Johnson’s sweeping cabinet reshuffle, sees Nadine Dorres brought in to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Dowden is moved sideways to become chairman of the Conservative Party.
Dorres, an author, was suspended by the Conservative party for agreeing to fly to Australia for the programme in 2012. Close to Johnson, she later became a health minister, and was a nurse prior to entering politics in 2000.
Dowden’s departure came on the afternoon that he was due to address the Royal Television Society in Cambridge. His speech, parts of which had been released to the press in advance, included the government’s defence of its Channel 4 privatisation plans and new proposals to ensure UK PSBs maintained a ‘Britishness’ in their output.
It fell to minister of state for media and data and digital John Whittingdale to deliver the speech. On Thursday morning, Whittingdale found himself on the back benches, replaced by Julia Lopez, part of the 2017 intake of MPs.
